Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25

/
Hoods divisions, but expressed his con-
fidence in tho good Judgment that had
withdrawn and kept them from him, and
closed with the hope that. notwithstand-
ing all our dangers and disadvantages,
Providence would bless the efforts which
he was sure his brave army would make
TO deserve success.
81 give oil this in detail to show the
errors writers upon Charlottesville have
fallen into in reference TO the origin OF
Jackson's famous flank movement"
The above statement from General
Fitz Lee and Colonel Marshall fully con-
firm the statement OF Colonel Talcott.
and leaves nothing else that needs to be
added.
But il stronger proof were wanted as
TO the origin of that movement. it is
found in letter written by General r.
T.. Lee to DIR. A. T. Bledsoe, former as
sistant secretary OF the Confederate War
Department, which / found, after his
death, copied into General Lees private
/ letter-book, in his own well-known hand
writing, and which 1 first published in
my "Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and
Letters OF K. f. Lee"
DR.. Bledsoe, who was then editor Of
the Southern ReuieaO, had written to
General Lee asking him the direct ques-
ton whether the flank movement at
Charlottesville originated with Jackson
or with himself, and in reply General
Lee wrote the following letter, which
settles the question beyond all contro-
veIsy
LEXINGTON, Va, Oct. %, 1867.
Dr.. A. T. Blcdsoc, Office Southern Re-
Vict0, baltimore, Nd. -:
My Dear Sir,-In reply to your in
/ quiry, must acknowledge that / have
not read the article on Charlottesville
i'll the last No. of tho Southern ReriCw,
nor have l read any of the books rub
| lished on either side since the ternina-
/ ton OF hostilities l have as yet felt no
| desire to revive my recollections of those
/ events, and have been satisfied with the
/ knowledge possessed of what transpircd.
i have, however, learned from others
that the various authors Of the life OF
jackson award to him the credit Of the
success gained by the Army of Northern
| Virginia where he was present and de-
/ scribe the movements of his corps or
! command as independent of the general
/ plan of operations and undertaken ut
his own suggestion and upon his own
responsibility.
al have the greatest reluctance to do
anything that might be considered de-
tracing from his welldeserved fame,
| for / believe no one was more convinced
of his worth or appreciated him more
highly than myself vet your knowledge
of military affairs, il you have none of
the events themselves, will teach you
that this could not have been so. Every
movement of an army must be well con-
sidered and properly ordered, and every
one who knew General Jackson must
know that he was too good q soldier to
violate this fundamental principle. In
the operations around Charlottesville l
overlook General Jackson, who had been
placed in command of the advance, as
the skirmishers of the approaching ar
mics met, advanced with the troups to
the Federal line OF defences, and was on
the field until their whole army recrossed
the Rappahannock.
"There is no question rs to who was
responsible for the operations of the
Confederates, or to whom any failure
would have been charged.
"What have said is for your own in
formation.
"With my best wishes for the success
OF the Southern RGrie'C, and for your
own welfare. in both OF which / take a
lively interest, | am, with great re-
Indianola Tribe, No 52 improved Order of
4 spect, your friend and servant,
ar. L. LEE"
It is due to the memory and fame of
Lee that the facts given above should be
brought out--that his true character as
q soldier should he clearly portrayed
and that tho world should know that so
far from being "slow and cautious" (as
General Grant said he was), he was not
one whit behind even "Stonewall "
jackson ia the boldness of bis concep-
tions, and the rapidity OF his execution ;
that President Jefferson Davis was not
wrong in his estimate when he said /:
"Lee would attempt anything that man
might dare"
And yet in this we would dishonor the
memory of Lee if we should disparage In
any way his great lieutenant" Stone
wall" Jackson-whom he called his
Fright arm, "Aand to whom he wrote
when he was stricken down Mt Cbancel-
lorsviIle: Gould / have dictated events
should have chosen for the good of the
country to have been disabled in your
stead" / had the privilege once OF
hearing General Lee, in his Office IN
Lexington, pronounce glowing eulogy
on Jackson, in which he said with fal
more than his accustomed warmth OF
feeling: % He never failed me. Why, il
had had Stonowall Jackson at Gettys
burg | should have won that battle, anG
if had won q decided victory there We
would have established the independence
of the Confederacy."
1t was, on the other hand, beautiful tC
see how Jackson reciprocated Lees higl
opinion. He said General Lee Is
phenomenon. he is the only man whom
/ would be willing TO follow blindfolded.
And it was glorious to see the Cheerful
alacrity, the splendid skill. and the ter
rife energy with which he executed th'
orders, or even the slightest wish of hi
chief. Lee and jackson were indeed
Par Mobile frdtratm. Lovely in thei
lives, in their death they were not di
vided," but sleeping side by side il
Lexington, in the Valley of Virginia
they live together in the hearts OF
grateful people, their fame is foreve
linked together, and their pure spirit
bask together i'll the sunlight of tina
brighter, better land, where "war's rud
alarms" are never heard.
j. WILLIAM JONES.
atlanta, December 10, 1887.
... rra~.-.as Ha.adsfarv In